
Class 
Book 



COPYRFGHT DEPOSIT 



ELECTRO-PLATING MADE EASY. 



TSIE 



m hWi Had -Bo ok 



A CLEAR AND COMPREHENSIVE TREA- 
TISE ON THE ART OF 



.D, SILVER AND NIGKEL PLATmS, 



VITH OR WITHOUT THE AID-^^5[^^0F^ca,G^ 
THE ELECTRIC CURREN ^ ' ^^^'^^'^^^^'^ ' 




E37- T. -^r. :e^..^ib:e=e:k. 



COLUMBUS, OHIO: 
PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHOR. 

1883. •• ^ 



4 



M- 



Copyrighted A. D. 1883, 
By T. V. Harper. 



I 



/ 



r 



Press of Trautman & Palmer, 
columbus, ohio. 



INTEODUOTION. 



In the preparation of this little work, we have 
-^^ndeavored to make everything as plain and 
:omprehensive as possible, by avoiding as far as 
)racticable all technical terms and names that are 
horoughly understood only by those having a 
lair knowledge of chemistry and its application 
to electro-metallurgical operations, which it is 
fair to presum.e, is not possessed by more than 
one out of a hundred persons, and as this book 
is intended more particularly for the practical 
benefit of the masses, we have adopted the 
language, and style of expression, best calcu- 
lated, we think, to supply a want in the field of 
popular, and scientific Hterature, heretofore so 
sadly neglected. At the same time the ex- 
perienced electro-plater will find herein, facts 
which will prove not only interesting, but 
instructive to him. 

The history of the art of electro-metallurgy 
dates far back in the seventeenth century, but 
not much progress was made in practical 



4 THE SILVER PLATER's HAND BOOK. 

application of the then Hmited knowledge of 
the art in plating articles in a substantial man- 
ner, until sometime after the discovery of 
voltaic or chemical electricity, which occurred 
in the year 1799. 

The first seven years of the eighteenth 
century, were fruitful in important discoveries 
in the art. In 1800 water was first decomposed 
into its two constituent gases, by means of the 
voltaic battery, and shortly afterwards it wa? 
discovered that silver, in contact with another, 
and a more positive metal, received a firmly 
adherent deposit of copper, when placed in a 
solution of that metal. 

In the years of 1804 and 1805, it was first 
noticed, that when a current of electricity was 
passed through a solution of sulphate of copper, 
or nitrate of silver, by means of silver, or 
platinum wires, the metal held in solution was 
deposited upon the wire connected with zinc 
pole of the battery. About a year later, gold 
was first successfully deposited by means of the 
electric current, and it was then first noticed, 
that the anode (or the pole or plate,) by which 
the electric current entered the solution was 
slowly dissolved, although it is not clearly 



THE SILVER PLATER S HAND BOOK. O 

shown that any advantage was taken of this 
fact at that time. This seems strange when we 
take into consideration the importance of the 
discovery, which plays so prominent a part in 
all electro-plating operations. 

From this time, until after the year 1831, 
when magneto-electricity was discovered by 
Faraday, but little Was done in the way of 
advancing the art of electro-metaUurgy. 

In the year 1834, Faraday conducted a num- 
ber of experiments, and discovered among other 
things, that the amount of salt in a solution 
decomposed by the electric current, was in 
direct proportion to the quantity of electricity, 
and that the quantity of electricity generated in 
a battery, depended upon the size of the plates 
the intensity of the current, or its power of 
overcoming resistence, depending upon the 
number of cells in circuit. 

In the year 1836, it was noticed that the 
copper pole of a battery somewhat similar to 
the present Daniell battery, became heavily 
coated with metallic copper, which constantly 
increased in thickness, and also that this deposit 
when removed, presented a faithful outline of 



6 THE SILVER PLATER's HAND-BOOK. 

the original copper plate, every line and scratch, 
however fine, being faithfully reproduced. 

In the years 1837 and 1839, it occurred to 
several parties that this fact might be taken 
advantage of in the reproduction of copper 
plates, steel engravings, etc., and a great many 
experiments were conducted with this end in 
view. One experimentalist had occasion to use 
a small strip of copper, in a sulphate of copper 
solution, in conducting one of his experiments, 
and not having a Mtrip of sheet copper con- 
venient, attached a large copper coin to a wire, 
and immersed it in the solution, where it 
remained in circuit for quite a while, and 
received a heavy deposit of copper. Finally one 
day while conducting another experiment, it 
became necessary for him . to use the wire 
attached to the coin, and while removing it he 
detached a large piece of the deposited copper, 
and at once observed that it was an exact mold 
of that portion of the coin, every line, and let- 
ter being reproduced with remarkable fidelity. 

In the year i84o, the art of electroplating 
with goid and silver received a fresh impetuous, 
by the discovery of the suitability of alkaline 
solutions, and the hitherto unprecedented sue- 



THE SILVER PLATERS HANDBOOK. 7 

cess attending their use. Great difficulty was 
still experienced in obtaining a good and firmly 
adherent deposit upon articles of brittania metal, 
which was finally remedied, by first coating the 
articles with copper. 

From this time forward, the art has been 
making rapid strides towards perfection, but in 
this age of progress and invention, wdio can 
gainsay the assertion that, perhaps, it is still in 
its infancy. So numerous are the wonderful 
inventions, and startling discoveries, that the 
more conservative would hesitate, at drawing 
the boundarly line beyond which inventive 
genius and scientific research may not proceed. 

It would seem to the practical electro plater 
that there is but little room or necessity for 
improvement in gold and silver plating solutions, 
as they are now about all that could be desired. 

It is with the electro-deposition of other more 
obscure metals and metalloids that the fields of 
scientific research lay invitingly open, the elec- 
trolysis of carbon being all the more interesting 
from the fact that it may probably result in the 
artificial formation of the diamond which, as the 
reader perhaps knows, is but pure crystalized 
carbon. 



8 THE SILVER PLATER's HAND BOOK. 

One great obstacle in the way of much re- 
search in the way of electro deposition of carbon 
is difficulty experienced in obtaining solutions 
containing carbon that are conductors of elec- 
tricity. The fused or melted carbonates are 
about the only liquids that have been used with 
any degree of success so far. 

With the melted carbonates of potash and 
sodium a black and very hard deposit of carbon 
has been obtained. 

The melted carbonate of sodium (washing 
soda) is, perhaps, the best mixture that has 
been tried as yet, it being a fair conductor of 
elect ricty, and yields a better deposit of carbon 
than any of the other mixtures. 

In conclusion we would say that a strict 
observance of the rules and formulas contained 
in this book will be productive of the best of 
results. Much pains have been taken to give 
the reader the benefit of all the later discoveries 
in the art, and the language of the book so 
adapted that those with but a limited education 
may easily understand. 



GENERAL INFOEMATION, 



All the vessels used in containing the dif- 
ferent solutions, should be of glass, stone, or 
enameled ware; glass ware being preferred for 
operations on the small scale. Their size should 
be adapted to the number and size of the articles 
to be plated, but for convenience sake we would 
suggest, that they be capable of containing at 
least a gallon. They should be kept in a well 
ventilated room, and where the light can not 
fall directly upon them. The different acids, 
and other necessary chemicals, should be kept in 
well stoppered bottles, and placed carefully out 
of the reach of meddling hands, as many of 
them are the most violent poisons, and some of 
them are capable of producing almost instan 
death ; and others, when mixed, producing the 
most powerful explosives. Too much care can 
not be observed in this respect, as many are the 
sad, and fatal results, of an incautious manner in 



10 THE SILVER PTATER's HAND BOOK. 

the handling of dangerous chemicals, or care- 
lessly leaving them where unthoughtful hands 
may bring about the most disastrous conse- 
quences. 

Articles to be re-plated, should first have 
the old deposit removed, either by the aid of 
different chemicals, ^vhich will be mentioned 
further along, or by filing and scraping, or 
scouring with emery paper. When removed by 
means of acids, the metal may be re covered 
with but small loss, and where the operation is 
carefully conducted, with no less at all, and used 
over again; where a great deal of re plating 
is done this is quite an important item in the 
economical management of the business. 

The prevailing opinion that electro-plating 
is necessarily a very expensive operation, is er- 
roneous, although w^e confess that the high 
prices at wdiich plated goods are usually sold, 
would tend to further that impression, and often 
when the purchaser has used the articles a short 
time, and worn off the thin plating, thus expos- 
ing the baser metal underneath, he would 
naturally conclude that what little precious 
metal there was there, had been deposited at 
great expense. But where the business is con- 



LHE SjiLVER ^LA.fEKa HANi^ }300J<:. H 

ducted economically, and understandingly, the 
total expense is but a very small percentnge 
over the intrinsic value of the metal depofited ; 
as an electro plating solution once properly 
made, and then carefully mana|f^, will last for 
years, or until it becomes^so clogged up wi-th 
impurities set free by the dissolving of the anode, 
that it will no longer deposit pure metal, and for 
this reason, great care should be taken in the 
selection of anodes, in order to obtain them as 
free as possible from all impurities. 

Anodes of silver generally contain traces of 
copper, and those of gold contain traces of both 
silver and copper, which being dissolved in the 
solution and deposited, greatly change the color 
and appearance of-the articles. When not in 
use, the vessels containing the depositing solu- 
tions should be carefully covered over to pre- 
vent accidents by poisoning, and also to keep 
out the dust, and other foreign substances which 
might be accidently introduced. 

The habit some platers have of dipping 
the hands in the solutions to recover articles 
that become detached from their supporting 
wires, is a very dangerous one to say the least of 
it, as some of the poison is apt to be absorbed 



12 THE SILVER PLATER's HAND BOOK. 

through the pores of the skin, or by getting 
into cuts, or even sh'ght abrasions of the skin, 
causae troublesome and dangerous sores. The 
way to recover articles accidentally dropped in 
the solution, i* fey means of a wooden spoon or 
a bent wire. 



PREPARING ARTICLES TO BE PLATED. 



All articles to be plated must first be made 
scrupulously clean, in order to obtain a good 
firm deposit. A great many failures may be 
attributed to the neglect of this very important 
step. They should first be filed or scraped, or 
otherwise made as smooth as possible, then 
immersed for a short time, in a strong and hot 
solution of potash, (concentrated lye) and then 
rinsed well in clean water. 

A very good scraper can be easily made by 
gnnding down the sides of a three cornered file 
until it is perfectly smooth, and finishing up on 
an oil stone, thus leaving three sharp cutting 
edges. Articles that have been soldered, must 
not be allowed to remain long in the potash 
solution, or a portion of the tin contained in the 
solder will be dissolved, and deposited on 
the articles, should they be copper or brass, 
and blacken them. Articles of copper, or brass, 
require only a few seconds immersion, those of 



14 THE SILVER PLATER'S HAND-BOOK. 

iron, or steel, a somewhat longer time. All 
articles should be well washed in clean water, 
immediately after taking them out of the potash 
solution, after which they should be treated 
with some of the different acid solutions, in 
order to more fully prepare the surface for the 
depositing solution. Ail articles of copper, 
brass, or German silver, should be dipped into 
a solution consisting of water four parts, 
sulphuric acid four parts, nitric acid two parts, 
to which a very small quantity of muriatic acid 
may be added. Articles of iron should be 
dipped in a mixture composed of one part of 
sulphuric acid and fifteen or twenty parts of 
water, and then well washed. Articles of lead, 
brittannia metal, or pewter, after having been 
treated with the potash solution and rinsed may 
be placed at once in the plating solution. It is 
a much better plan, however, to coat them, and 
articles of iron and steel also, with a thin film, 
of copper by means of one of the following 
solutions before attempting to plate them with 
cither gold, silver or nickel. For depositing a thin 
coating of copper on iron or steel use a weak 
and slightly acidulated solution of sulphate of 
copper, (blue vitriol) rub the itrfkles briskly 



• THE SILVER PLATER S HAND-BOOK. 15 

with a cloth moistened with this Hquid, and as 
soon as tliey have thj desired appearance, wash 
them well and dry them quickly ; or they may 
simply be immersed in the liquid for a short 
time, and then thoroughly washed, and dried. 
This solution is not adapted for any other metals 
except iron and steel, and is not always certain 
in its operation. The surest, and best way is to 
use a battery and an alkaline solution, which may 
be prepared in the following manner: Add to 
a solution of sulphate of copper, a solution of 
cyanide of potassium just as long, but no longer 
than it forms a precipitate ; the cyanide solution 
should be added slowly, and towards the last in 
small quantities at a time, with frequent stirring, 
carefully observing when it no longer forms a 
precipitate, which is cyanide of copper. Allow 
it to settle, and pour off the clear liquid, 
wash the precipitate well by filling the vessel 
with water, stirring it up, and aftei it has settled 
again pouring off the water, repeating the 
operation several times, in order to remove all 
traces of acid, then add to the wet cyanide of 
copper, a little more of a solution of cyanide of 
potassium than is required simply to dissolve it, 
that is, add thej:yanide of potassium solution, to 



16 THE SILVER PLATER's HAND BOOK, 

the wet cyanide of copper^ until it is all dis- 
solved ; then add a little more of the cyanide 
solution to form what is termed "free cyanide/' 
This solution should be used at a temperature 
of about 150*^ Fahr. A battery of from one to 
three cells, such as are used in all telegraph 
offices, will be sufficient for all ordinary opera 
tions. To use this solution, in'kmerse in it a 
clean sheet of copper and attach it to the wire 
leading from the copper pole of the battery, and 
the previously well cleaned articles of iron, 
steel, lead, brittannia metal, and in fact almost 
any tnetal to the wire leading from the zinc pole 
of the battery. The articles should be im- 
mersed in the solution before being connected 
to the battery, and the wire should be detached 
from them before taking them out of it, The 
amount of battery should be adjusted to the 
amount of surface presented by the articles to 
be plated. The smaller the articles, the less 
battery power will be required. A number of 
small articles may be attached to each other, or 
to the same wire, and be plated at one time. If 
too much battery be used, the copper will be 
deposited in the form of a dark metallic powder. 
This solution is rather difficult to manage, and is 



THE SILVER plater's HAND BOOK. IT 

more expensive than a simple acidulated solution 
of sulphate of copper. This latter solution, 
however, cannot be used to plate iron, steel, 
lead, brittannia metal, etc, unless they have 
previously received a thin deposit of copper in 
the cyanide solution. The sulphate solution is 
used in precisely the same manner as the cyan- 
ide solution, and where heavy deposits arc 
desired, it is much to be preferred. In copper- 
ing articles in this way, preparatory to plating 
them with another metal, a thin deposit will be 
sufficient, but as we have stated before, the 
sulphate solution will not answer, unless the 
articles have previously received a thin deposit 
of copper, and we must per force first use the 
cyanide solution, or in the case of iron and steel 
resort to the rather uncertain method of rubbing 
them with a rag, moistened with a slightly 
acidulated solution of the sulphate. After re- 
moving the articles from the solution, they 
should be well washed and examined, and if 
any imperfections be discovered, the cleaning 
and scouring operation will have to be done 
over again, and th*^ plating repeated, but by 
using a proper amount of care the first attempt 
will generally prove successful. 



NICKEL PLATING WITHOUT A BATTERY, 



The commonest salts of nickel are the nitrate, 
chloride, sulpliate and oxide. The nitrate is 
obtained by dissnlvini:^ tlie metal in warm dihited 
nitric acid, and evaporating the mixture by a 
gentle heat until the residue solidifies upon 
cooling. The oxide is made by adding to a 
solution of the nitrate, or other common salt of 
nickel, a solution of potash, or caustic soda, un- 
til it no longer forms a precipitate. There is no 
danger of adding too much o( either potash or 
soda, as the oxide it forms is not soluble in a 
solution of either of them ; the preci[)itate 
which is oxide of nickel, sliould be collected by 
means of a filter and dried. It is a black pow- 
der, insoluble in water, but dissolves readil}^ in 
nitric, muriatic or sulphu»-ic acid. The sulphate 
is obtained by dissolving either the nitrate, 
chloride or oxide in a quantity of diluted 
sulphuric acid, and evaporating the mixture 
nearly to dryness, when it will solidify upon 



THE SILVER Plater's hand-book. JO 

cooling. A solution of the nitrate of nickel 
may be obtained by passing a tolerably strong 
current of electricity through a very dilute 
solution of nitric acid, by means of two plates 
of nickel, or by using a dilute solution of 
muriatic acid, the chloride may be obtained, and 
with a dilute solution of sulphuric acid, a solu- 
tion of the sulphate is produced. Nickel is too 
highly electro positive a metal to be readily 
deposited upon other metals, unless they are 
more electro positive than itself. This consti- 
tutes one of the greatest difficulties in the way 
of successful nickel plating, but one which we 
think may be "overcome by a careful observance 
of the directions given. 

Thoroughly cleaned articles of copper, 
brass, and German silver, and articles of iron, 
steel, pewter, type metal etc., that have pre- 
viously received a deposit of copper by the 
battery process, may be coated with nickel very 
readily in the following solution : Add to a 
boiling solution of pure tin tarter, a small quan- 
tity of nickel oxide heated to redness, which 
will impart a greenish tint to the liquid. Use 
the solution hot, and stir the articles about in it 
with a brass rod until they have acquired a good 



20 THE SILVER PLATER 's HAND BOOK. 

deposit, then take them out, wasli and dry 
them, and if necessary, polish them with finely 
powdered clialk This solution should yield a 
very brilliant deposit and is comparatively easy 
to manage, but the immersion of the least par- 
ticle of zinc or iron in it will greatly impair its 
action, and perhaps ruin it. 



ELEOTEO NICKEL PLATING, 



There are quite a number of solutions used 
by different platers, for depositing nickel by 
means of the electric current, any of which are 
capable of doing excellent work, but in the 
hands of an inexperienced person, they all 
prove rather difficult to manage. The simplest, 
and perhaps the best solution, is made by adding 
slowly to a solution of nitrate, or chloride of 
nickel, a solution of cyanide of potassium as 
long as a precipitate, or cloud is formed, pour off 
the clear liquid. Wash the precipitate, and 
dissolve it in a strong solution of cyanide of 
potassium, adding a very little more of the 
cyanide solution, than is required simply to dis- 
solve it. 

Another, and a very good solution for electro- 
nickel plating, is simply solution of chloride of 
nickel, and^yields a very white and brilliant de- 
posit. Still another solution is composed of 
sulphate of nickel two parts, tartaric acid (dis- 



22 THE SILVER PLATER's HAND BOOK. 

solved in water) one part, and potash (concen- 
trated lye) one-tenth part, or the tartaric acid 
and potash may be a very little in excess of the 
figures given without injuring the solution. 
This solution we think is capable of giving bet- 
ter results than either ot the others, and is much 
more simple in its preparation. There are 
quite a number of other solutions used to a 
greater or less extent by different electro platers, 
but their preparation and maintenance involve 
difficult and complex operations that necessitate 
a thorough knowledge of chemistry and for that 
reason would be out of place here. 



MANAGEMENT OF NICKEL PLATING SO- 
LUTIONS. 



Nickel plating solutions are more difficult to 
manage than those of either copper, silver or 
gold. The amount of nickel salts held in the 
solution may vary considerably without 
materially affecting its working. From three to 
eight ounces of the combined salts per gal on of 
water makes a very good working solution. 
When it contains -less than this amount the 
working of the solution is retarded by the in- 
creased resistence it offers to the passage of the 
electric current, and when it contains more than 
the proper amount, the chemical action is im- 
peded by the solution being too nearly satu- 
rated. Electro plating is the product of electro 
chemical action, this phenomenon being called 
electro chemical action from the fact that a cur- 
rent of electricity passing through a suitable 
liquid produces a chemical change in it. Elec- 
tricity being the cause and chemical action the 



24 THE SILVER PLATER's HAND BOOK. 

result, hence the importance of having a solu- 
tion that is a good conductor of electricity and 
at the same time one that is capable of sustain- 
ing the proper amount of chemical action neces- 
sary for its successful operation. Nickel beir-g 
a very brittle metal, it is rather difficult to obtain 
suitable anodes. They are generally composed 
of plates of cast nickel, and should present a 
surface considerably larger than that of the 
articles to be plated. Where anodes of cast 
nickel cannot be obtained small Iragments of 
nickel may be suspended in the solution by 
means ot a frame work of platinum wire. 

Nickel is a metal that is seldom obtained in 
its pure state. It generally containing traces of 
copper, carbon and other impurities which, dis- 
solving with the anode, are either deposited or 
fall to the bottom and form a black sediment. 
It is a difficult matter to obtain a heavy deposit 
of nickel, owing to its tendency to crack and 
scale off, but for ordinary work there is no par- 
ticular necessity in having a thick deposit, as it 
is so extremely hard that a very thin coating 
will, with ordinary usage, last for years where a 
deposit of silver equally as thick would scarcely 
last as many months. Nickel is not affected to 



THE SILVER PLATER's HANDBOOK. 25 

any great extent by exposure to the air or coal 
smoke, and in this respect it possesses an ad- 
vantage over silver which is easily tarnished by 
exposure to sulphuretted gases. Nickel is very 
easily corroded by acids and lorms very poison- 
ous compounds, and for this reason should 
never be used for plating the interior of vessels 
used in cooking ; but for plating such articles as 
cream pitchers, sugar bowls, drinking cups, 
etc., it possesses the great advantage of being 
capable of retaining its polish and resisting 
rough usage for a long time. 

P'rom one to three cells of battery will gener- 
ally be sufficient ; too much battery causing the 
metal to be deposited in the form of a black 
powder. The anode, either in the form of a 
plate of nickel, or composed of fragments of 
nickel suspended in a platinum wire net work, 
should be attached to the wire leading from the 
copper pole of the battery, and the previously 
cleaned articles, after being placed in thc^^soju- 
tion, should be attached to the wire leading 
from the zinc pole of the battery and kept in 
gentle but constant motion and as near as pos- 
sible to the anode without coming in actual con- 
tact with i(, until they have acquired a sufficient 

3 



THE SILVER PLATER's HAND BOOK. '26 

deposit, when they may be taken out and well 
rinsed in hot water and dried by rolling them 
about in hot sawdust. All the solutions we 
have given should be used at a temperature of 
from_ioo° to 150° Fahr. 



SILVEE PLATING WITHOUT A BATTERY. 



Quite a namber of the different salts of sil- 
ver have been used in forming preparations for 
silver plating by this method, which, by the way, 
hardly merits the name of silver plating, as but 
a very thin film of metal can be deposited with- 
out the aid of a battery, but for small articles of 
ornament not subject to much hard usage this 
process of silvering answers very well. Most of 
the salts of silver are made from the nitrate, 
which is formed by dissolving small fragments 
of silver in a warm mixture composed of one 
part of water and four or five parts of the 
strongest nitric acid. Care must be taken that 
the liquid is not too hot nor the silver added 
too rapidly, or it will boil over and a portion of 
it be lost. Should it threaten to do so, add a 
small quantity of cold water. The whole 
operation should be conducted in the open air 
or where there is sufficient draft to carry off the 
noxious fumes that arise from the mixture while 



28 THE SILVER FLATEr's HAND BOOK. 

the silver is being dissolved. When it will dis- 
solve no more metal it should be evaporated 
and crystallized. The resultant' salt is nitrate of 
silver, which should be kept in a well stoppered 
bottle protected t'rom the light. The chloride 
is formed by adding a solution of common salt 
to a solution of nitrate of silver, until it will no 
longer form a precipitate, which should be care- 
fully filtered and washed and be protected from 
the light. This salt is more frequently used in 
making compounds for silvering without a bat^ 
tery, than any of the other salts. 

This process is more particularly adapted to 
the plating of small articles, where they are not 
subject to much wear, and consequently only a 
very thin coating of silver is required ; the 
deposit looking fully as well as at tides plated by 
the battery process. 

The following solutions we have selected from 
a large number as being the most economical ; 
and at the same time, simple and efficacious, 
and are used by adJing sufficient warm water to 
them to form a thin paste, and rubbing it over 
the articles with a soft rag, or stirring them 
about in it until they have become thoroughly 
coated. I St. Take equal parts of chloride of 



THE SILVE:R plater's HAND-BOOK. 29 

silver and cream of tarter. 2d. Take common 
salt and cream of tarter each six parts, chloride 
of silver one part and about two parts of alum. 
A p^ood liquid solution is made by dissolving in 
boiling water a mixture composed of chloride of 
silver one part and cream of tarter sixty or 
eighty parts. The articles to be plated should 
be placed in a small basket and immersed and 
stirred around in the boiling liquid. 

The above mentioned solutions can only be 
used for plating articles of brass, copper or Ger- 
man silver, or articles of other metals that have 
previously received a coating of copper. The 
liquid solution, after continued use, becomes of 
a greenish color, caused by the presence of cop- 
per, dissolved from articles that have been 
plated in it. The presence of the least particle 
of iron, steel, lead or brittannia metal, causes 
the copper to be deposited, thus spoiling the 
appearance of the articles. An old solution, 
however, will work much better than a new one, 
provided it has been well taken care of and has 
been properly managed, and it may be renewed 
b> occasionally adding small quantities of chlo- 
ride of silver, and thus kept in good order for a 



30 THE SILVER PLATEr's HANIVBOOK. 

long time. In using these solutions, as well as 
all other plating solutions, the articles to be 
plated must first be made very clean and smooth, 
and the solutions kept at a uniform temperature. 



SILVEE PLATING BY THE BATTEEY 
PEOCESS. 



Quite a number of the salts of silver have 
been used in forming solutions for silver plating 
by means of the electric current, all of which 
have proved more or less successful, but the 
solution that has the best stood the test of time 
and experience, is the commonly called cyanide 
solution, and which may be formed either by 
chemxal means, or by means of an electric cur- 
rent. The former method, we think, is to be 
preferred, especially when the operation is to be 
conducted by those havuig but little experience 
in such matters. To prepare the solution by 
this method, make a solution of nitrate of silver 
in the proportion of about one pint of water to 
each half ounce of nitrate of silver; also have 
prepared a solution of cyanide of potassium in 
the proportion of about two ounces of cyanide 
of potassium to one quart of water, which 
should be added to the solution of nitrate of 



32 THE SILVER PLATER's HAND BOOK. 

silv^er as long as any precipitate is formed (which 
is the cyanide of silver.) Should too much be 
added some of this precipitate will be redis 
solved and wasted. This will be indicated by a 
clear and slightly di.scolored tint being imparted 
to the liquid, where the cyanide of potassium 
solution passes. Should this be the case, add a 
weak solution of nitrate of silver in small quan- 
tities at a time, and at the same time stirring 
the liquid gently as long as it produces a light 
cloudy appearance. This amount of care is 
necessary in order that all of the silver may be 
utilized, as when too much or too little of the 
cyanide solution is added, some of the silver 
remains held in the solution. In the former 
case, in the shape of the double cyanide of 
silver and potassium, and when too little is 
added the silver remains in the clear portion of 
the solution in the form of nitrate of silver, but 
when just the proper amount is added, all of 
the silver is precipitated in the form of the sim- 
ple cyanide of silver. After the exact neutral 
paint has been attained, allow the liquid to set- 
tle, and pour off the clear liquid, carefully pre- 
serving the precipitate which should be well 
washed by adding a quantity of water, stirring 



THE SILVER PLATER S HAND BOOK. deJ 

it up thoroughly, and after it has settled pour 
off the clear liquid, repeating the operation 
several times until all traces of acid have been 
removed. The wash waters, as well as ihe 
clear liquid first poured off should be preserved 
and tested in order to recover any traces of 
silver they may contain. Next add to the wet 
precipitate a strong solution of cyanide of po- 
tassium until barely the whole of it is dissolved, 
leaving a clear and light amber colored liquid. 
The cyanide solution should be added in small 
quantities at a time, and the solution thoroughly 
stirred upon each addition, then allow it to set- 
tle. Should any of the precipitate then remain 
undissolved, add a little more of the cyanide 
solution, stir briskly, and allow it to settle, re- 
peating the operation until barely the whole is 
dissolved, and finally having observed how 
much of tlie cyanide of potassium solution was 
required to merely dissolve the precipitate, add 
about one third to^one half as much more of it, 
in order to form what is called "free cyanide," 
and then add enough water to dilute the whole 
to the proportion of about two ounces of nitrate 
of silver per gallon or more of the solution. 
The solution is then ready for immediate use. 



34 THE SILVER PLATER's HAND-BOOK. 

There are also quite a number of methods 
other than this ot making the cyanide solution, 
but all of them necessitate the introduction of 
various impurities that are often highly detri- 
mental ; for instance, suppose we add a solution 
of cyanide of potassium to a solution of oxide 
of silver as long as it will dissolve, and then add 
the usual amount of free cyanide part of 
the cyanide of potassium will be converted into 
caustic potash, or if chloride of silvei be used 
instead of th ^ oxide, part of the cyanide of 
potassium will be converted into chloride of 
potash, or if the nitrate of silver be used, it 
will produce almost an equal amount of the 
nitrate of potash as an impurity in the solution. 
Nor is this process an economical one by any 
means, as it requires exactly the same amount 
of cyanide of potassium to convert it into the 
plating solution as where the solution is made 
by the method we have first given, and besides 
it has the very great disadvantage of introduc- 
ing impurities very detrimental to the satisfac- 
tory working of the solution. 

The strength of silver plating solutions may 
vary greatly without materially affecting their 
operation, some platers doing excellent work 



THE SILVER PLATEr's HANDBOOK. 35 

with solutions containing half an ounce of silver 
per gallon, and others using solutions containing 
several ounces of silver, and almost as many 
pounds of cyanide of potassium. A good 
working solution should contain from one to 
three ounces of silver per gallon, converted into 
cyanide, and from thirty to fifty per cent, of 
free cyanide. A good solution should not have 
a corroding effect on the base metals because it 
is those metals we wish to plate, and if the 
solution should have a corroding effect upon 
them, it will infallibly cause the deposit to strip 
and scale off. The cyanide silver plating solu- 
tion may be made by the battery process, with 
but very little trouble, and some electro platers 
prefer this method to any other, but while it 
possesses the advantage of simplicity, it also 
has the disadvantage of forming a small quan- 
tity of potash in the solution. This, however, 
may be remedied by the addition of a small 
quantity of the strongest prussic acid, which 
converts the caustic potash into cyanide. To 
make the solution by this process, make a 
moderately strong solution of cyanide of potas- 
sium and suspend in it a large anode and a 
small cathode of silver and then pass a strong 



36 



THE SILVER PLATEr's HAND-BOOK. 



current of electricity through it until a clean 
sheet of copper substituted for a short time for 
the small silver cathode, receives a oood deposit 
of silver, or until the solution contains about 
one ounce of silver per gallon which may be 
determined by weighing both the anode and the 
cathode before placing them in the solution and 
then weighing them from time to time, until the 
proper amount of silver is known to have been 
diss;>lved, the solution is then ready for use. 

The silver deposited by these solutions has a 
frosted appearance, and must be burnished in 
order to make them bright, or they may be 
placed in a specially prepared solution in order 
to deposit a coating of bright silver upon them. 

This brightening solution is prepared by tak- 
ing one pint of the ordinary silver plating solu- 
tion, containing about two pounds of cyanide of 
potassium per gallon, and add to it two ounces 
of bisulphide of carbon, two of strong liquor 
ammonia and one of ether, and shake well. 
Let it stand at least twenty-four hours, shaking 
it occasionally, and then add the clear liquid to 
the ordinary silver plating solution, with gentle 
stirring in the proportion of one ounce to every 
ten gallons. This would make less than a 



THE SILVER PLATER's HAND-BOOK. 37 

small teaspooiifuU per gallon. This brightening 
mixture should be added in the above propor- 
tions about every other day, but great care 
must be observed that too much is not used, as 
more solutions have been ruined by the excess 
of the brightening solution, than by all other 
causes put together. It is best to add but very 
little at first, and if from the \Vorking of the 
solution, you conclude it needs more, then add 
a very little more taking care to use only the 
very least possible amount necessary to produce 
the desired effect. If too much is added, it will 
cause the articles to have a dull and dark ap- 
pearance, and perhaps to have dark streaks or 
spots on them. As often as a quantity of the 
brightening liquid is used, add a similar amount 
of the ordinary plating solution, or the same 
amount of a solution of cyanide of potassium, 
containing two pounds of cyanide of potas- 
sium per gallon. Another brightening solution 
is prepared by taking one quart of ordinary 
silver plating liquid containing about a half 
pound of cyanide of potassium, and adding to 
it two ounces of bisulphide of carbon, shaking 
well, and then set aside for a day or two, and 
adding to the ordinary plating solution in the 



38 THE SILVER PLATER'S HAND-BOOK. 

same proportion as the first liquid we mention, 
always replacing the amount used by a similar 
amount of the ordinary silver plating solution, 
and shaking well. The "bright" solution is 
only used to finish articles in they having pre- 
viously received a deposit in the ordinary plat- 
ing solution, and then transferred immediately 
to the "bright" solution. Now having de- 
scribed the different methods of making the 
solutions, we will give the reader a few practical 
hints as to their management. 

Copper, brass, and German silver become 
coated with silver much easier than any other 
metal, and for this reason all articles of other 
metals should, if possible, first receive a deposit 
of copper before attempting to plate them with 
silver. This, however, is not absolutely neces- 
sary, when plating by means of the electric cur- 
rent. All articles must of course be made per- 
fectly clean before attempting to plate them 
and when the cleaning operation has been con- 
cluded, great care must be taken to prevent 
them coming in contact with anything that 
would tarnish them in the least, handling them 
only with metallic hooks or tongs and never 
with the naked hand. 



THE SILVER PLATER's HAND BOOK. 39 

Articles of iron and steel are first immersed 
in a hot and strong- potash solution, then dipped 
for a short time only in a liquid prepared as 
follows - Take one pint of water, add to it 
slowly two ounces of sulphuric acid that has 
had a small piece of zinc dissolved in it and 
then add one ounce of nitric acid ; This should 
give the articles a clean bright appearance. 

They may then be plated with copper in a 
cyanide solution as previously described or they 
may be placed in the ordinary silver plating 
solution, using a strong battery of considerable 
"quantity" at first, or until they have acquired 
a thin deposit, when the battery should be re- 
duced to the ordinary strength, until the deposit 
is sufficiently heavy. 

All articles should be suspended in the solu- 
tion by means of a wire or hook of the same 
or similar metal, small articles may be strung 
on a wire of the same metal as the contact of 
different metals in the solution is apt to leave a 
stain. 

Articles of copper, brass and German silver, 
after being thoroughly cleaned by means of the 
potash and acid solutions, should be immersed 
in the following solution and then well rinsed in 



40 THE SILVER PLATER's HAND-BOOK. 

clean water just previous to placing them in the 
silver solution : Dissolve one ounce of mercury 
in a mixture composed of nitric acid one part 
and water three parts, add no more mercury 
than the acid will dissolve, dilute it with as 
much more water and add a strong solution of 
cyanide of potassium as long as it forms a pre- 
cipitate but no longer. Collect the precipitate 
and wash it two or three times with clear water, 
then add to it with occasional stirring a strong 
solution of cyanide of potassium until it is all 
dissolved, then add a little more of the cyanide 
solution and enough water to make the whole 
measure a gallon. This solution will cover the 
articles with a thin coating of mercury and will 
generally insure a firm adherent deposit. 

Th<^ articles should not remain in the mur- 
curic solution any longer than is necessary to 
make them look white, and should be well 
rinsed in water after taking them out, in order 
to remove all excess of it. 

The solution will last a long time, but it final- 
ly becomes weak and impure from continued 
use, and blackens the articles immersed in it. It 
is then better to make a new solution than to 
try to revive the old one, almost any salt of 



THE SILVER PLATER's HAND BOOK. 41 

mcixury may be dissolved in a solution of 
cyanide of potassium to be used as a "quick- 
ing" solution. For instance, dissolve a quan- 
tity of red precipitate in an excess of a solution 
of cyanide of potassium ; that is, add the red 
precipitate as long as the cyanide solution will 
dissolve it; then add a small quantity of the 
cyanide solution. 

The mercuric solution may be prepared in a 
number of ways, but the result is practically 
the same, viz. : The forming of a solution of 
the double cyanide of mercury and potassium. 

The brightening solution works slower and 
requires a stronger battery than the ordinary 
solution ; it generally requiring from ten to 
twenty minutes for the articles to become wholly 
bright. The deposit is also much harder. 

When the articles are once placed in the solu- 
tion they must not be moved or disturbed until 
the operation is completed, and where a num- 
ber of articles are being brightened at the same 
time none of them must be taken out or dis- 
turbed in any way until all of them have be- 
come bright. 

When the articles have become sufficiently 
bright disconnect them from the battery and 

4 



42 THE SILVER PLATER's HAND-BOOK. 

remove them from the solution and place them 
immediately in boiling water and allow them to 
remain there a few minutes, then take them out 
and dry them. 



GOLD PLATING WITHOUT A BATTERY. 



Chloride of gold is the salt generally used in 
making gilding solutions and in preparing the 
other salts of gold. The chloride of gold is 
prepared by dissolving gold in a warm aqua- 
regia which is a mixture composed of one part 
of nitric acid and two or three of muriatic acid. 
The gold should be cut up in small pieces and 
added slowly, care beii^taken not to inhale the 
gases that arise from the mixture. The gold 
dissolves very slowly but by gently heating the 
mixture its action is quickened. Four ounces 
of this liquid will dissolve about one ounce of 
gold, and form nearly one and a third ounces of 
chloride of gold. 

When the solution has dissolved all the gold 
it can, evaporate it with gentle heat to a small 
bulk which will solidify when cooled. The re- 
sultant yellow salt is the chloride of gold which 
is soluble in water. 

Almost all articles of gold contain traces of 
silver and this metal may now be observed m 



44 THE SILVER PLATER's HAND BOOK. 

the solution in the form of chloride of silver, 
which is a white substance and insoluble in 
water, which may be removed, if desired, by 
pouring ofT the clear liquid, which holas the 
gold in solution, leaving behind the white 
chloride of silver, which should be preserved. 

Any dark or brownish substance that will not 
dissolve is very likely metallic gold formed by 
the chloride being over heated and should be re- 
converted into chloride. 

A solution of gold forms upon the addition of 
ammonia, a brown precipitate which, when dry, 
is one of the most po\^rful and dangerous ex 
plosives known, and ^ffich detonates with the 
least friction or percussion. One little accident 
of this kind will put a sudden stop to any fur- 
ther experiments, therefore great care should 
be taken to prevent its formation, or if formed 
to prevent its becoming dry. 

The gilding solution is prepared as follows; 
Dissolve one pennyweight of chloride of gold 
in a gallon and a half of water ; add nine 
ounces of caustic potash, one ounce of carbon- 
ate of potash, and half an ounce of cyanide of 
potash. This solution should be used very hot, 
but not quite at the boiling point. 



THE SILVER PLATEr's HAND BOOK. 45 

The previously cleaned articles of copper or 
brass are immersed for a short time in this 
solution, when they should be taken out and 
dried. Should a thicker coating be desired 
they should then be dipped in the cyanide of 
mercury solution (see page 40) and then after 
rinsing them, be immersed in the gilding solu. 
tion again. By repeating this operation several 
tinses a very thick deposit may be obtained 
capable of resisting the action of tlie strongest 
acids for a long time. 

This process of gold plating is more particu- 
larly adapted to tlie plating of articles not sub- 
ject to much handling, as generally only a very 
thin coating is obtained by it. The work done 
by this method, however, looks fully as well as 
that done by the battery process, and to those 
having no knowledge ot the art of electro- 
metallurgy is somewhat more simple. 

The solution also improves with constant 
usage, acquiring a greenish tint from the pres- 
ence of copper dissolved t'rom the articles that 
I'.ave been plated in it. This however, does 
not interfere with its working unless there is a 
great deal of it held in solution , then it may be 



46 THE SILVER PLATEr's HAND BOOK. 

deposited with the gold, and impart a darker 
color to it. 

As the solution gradually loses its gold by- 
being deposited, it is necessary to add, from 
time to time, a small quantity of chloride of 
gold dissolved in a little water, ^ in order to 
strengthen it, and after three or four such 
additions it may be necessary to add a small 
amount of the other salts, always preserving the 
proper proportions. By this means the solution 
may be kept in good working order for an in- 
definite length of time. 



GOLD PLATING BY THE BATTERY PRO- 
CESS. 



Solutions for gold plating by means of the 
electric current may, like those for silver plating 
be made either by the aid of a battery, or by 
the chemical process ; that made by the chemi- 
cal process being more quickly made and we 
think capable of giving better satisfaction to the 
inexperienced. 

Tiie solution made by the battery process has 
the advantage of being perhaps a trifle more 
economical, and for this reason is often preferred 
by the experienced electro plater. 

To make the solution by the chemical process, 
dissolve about one and a half ounces of chloride 
of gold in water or convert a little over an 
ounce of gold into chloride and dissolve in 
water, and add a solution of cyanide of potas- 
sium, slowly and at intervals with frequent 
stirring just as long as it produces a precipitate, 
but no longer. Great care must be taken to 



48 THE SILVER PLATER's HAND BOOK. 

attain the exact neutral paint, that is, when it 
no longer produces a precipitate upon the addi- 
tion of a very small quantity of either the 
cyanide or the chloride of gold solution. 

A small quantity of the chloride of gold 
solution should be reserved and slightly diluted 
for this purpose, and if it is not all used it may 
be set away and protected fiom the^light for 
future use. 

Should the solution contain an excess of 
either the chloride or the cyanide some of the 
gold will be held in the clear solution and be 
poured off, hence the importance of exercising 
great care in this respect. 

When the exact neutral paint has been at- 
tained, allow it to settle and pour off the clear 
liquid, which should be preserved in order to 
recover any traces of gold it may contain. 
Then wash the precipitate well by adding water, 
stirring briskly, and after it has settled, pouring 
off the clear liquid, repeating the operation a 
number of times so as. to thoroughly remove all 
traces of acid. 

The wash waters should be preserved as they 
also are liable to contain traces of gold. 



THE SILVER PLATER's HAND BOOK. 49 

After the last wash water has been poured off 
pour the precipitate into a paper filter, add a 
small quantity of water and allow it to drain 
thoroughly, but not to become dry, as it may 
possibly contain a small amount of the fulmi- 
nate of gold which is an extremely dangerous 
substance, and detonates with terrible violence 
upon the slightest friction or percussion. When 
the precipitate has thoroughly drained, collect 
it in a suitable vessel and add to it a strong 
solution of cyanide of potassium until barely 
the whole of it is dissolved, then, having 
observed the amount of cyanide solution neces 
sary to merely dissolve the precipitate, add 
about one-fourth as much more to form what is 
termed by electro platers "free cyanide" and 
finally dilute the whole with clean water to one 
gallon. The amount of gold in the solution 
may vary greatly from the amount we have 
given without injury to its working, but in order 
to obtain the best results it should not contain 
less than one half an ounce, nor more than ten 
ounces of gold per gallon. A rather dilute 
solution gives a somewhat better deposit but is 
less rapid in its operation than a stronger one. 



.00 THE SILVER PLATEr's HAND BOOK. 

To prepare the gilding solution by means of 
a battery, dissolve two pounds of cyanide of 
potassium in one gallon of warm water, im- 
merse two sheets of pure gold in this solution 
and connect them to a moderately strong bat- 
tery, and allow them to remain in this position 
and occasionally stirring the liquid, until the 
proper amount of gold has been dissolved and 
held in solution. This may be determined by 
weighing both sheets of gold before placing 
them in the solution, and then by taking them 
out of the solution occasionally and weighing 
them, the amount of gold held in solution may 
be very easily determined. 

Still another and a better means of ascertain- 
ing when the solution is ready for use, is to 
occasionally substitute for a short time a bright 
and clean sheet of copper, or light colored brass 
for the gold cathode, until it finally receives a 
satisfactory deposit. The solution is then ready 
for work and should be used at a temperature of 
about 150^ Fahr. 



PMOTIOAL OPERATION OF GILDING SO. 
LUTIONS. 



All solutions for gold plating should be used 
at a temperature of about 150° Fahr., and 
when not in use should be carefully covered 
over to protect it from the dust and other im- 
purities. The amount of gold held in the solu- 
tion may vary greatly without materially affect- 
ing it working, provided always, that it also 
contains a proportionate amount of cyanide of 
potassium. The proportions of gold and cyan- 
ide of potassium in the solution may vary 
within certain limits, generally from twent>-five 
to fifty per cent, more than is required to 
simply dissolve the cyanide of gold (see page 
49) without impairing its usefulness. 

Too much cyanide of potassium causes the 
deposit to have a dirty discolored appearance. 
After the solution has been in use for some 
time it often works badly in consequence of the 
proportions of gold and cyanide becoming dis- 



K7 



THE SILVER PLATER S HAND-BOOK. 



arranged. This is caused sometimes by using 
anodes with greater or less surface than the 
articles to be plated. 

When the anode presents a larger surface in 
the solution than the articles to be plated, the 
solution rapidly becomes richer in gold, which 
uniting with the free cyanide, soon uses it all up 
in forming the double cyanide of gold and 
potassium, leaving but very little or none at all 
to form the "free cyanide" so essential to its 
perfect working. 

This condition is indicated by the anode 
becoming covered v^ith crust or sediment, and is 
remedied by using an anode with smaller sur- 
face than the articles to be plated, or a sufficient 
amount of a solution of cyanide of potassium 
may be added. 

When the anode becomes black, and has a 
slimy appearance, the solution needs more gold, 
which may be supplied by using an anode of 
greater surface until the solution is again prop- 
erly proportioned, which will be indicated by 
the anode remaining bright and clean and giv- 
ing a good deposit. By carefully observing 
these indications, and applying the proper 
remedy, the solution may be kept in order 



THE SILVER PLATEr's HAND BOOK. 53 

almost indefinitely, but after very long continued 
use it becomes contaminated with various im- 
purities, some of them accidentally introduced, 
and others set free by the dissolving of the 
anode. 

Gold anodes invariably contain traces of sil- 
ver, which is dissolved in the solution, and by 
being deposited with the gold increases its 
paleness of color. When from any of these 
reasons the solution ceases to work satisfactorily, 
all the metal held in solution may be recovered 
separately, and used to start out anew. 



DEPOSITING DIFFEEENT SHADES OF GOLD. 



The color of the deposit may be regulated in 
quite a number of ways, pure gold having too 
light a color to be admired by many. An old 
solution, in which a great many copper articles 
have been plated, is capable of yielding different 
colored deposits by means of regulating the size 
of the anodes, temperature of the solution, 
the strength of the battery, and, in a degree, 
the strength of the solution also. 

An old solution, that yields a pale yellow 
deposit, when but a small portion of the anode 
touches the solution, will yield a darker deposit 
when the anode is further immersed, and finally, 
when it is entirely immersed, the deposit will be 
of a red color. 

The temperature of the solution effects the 
color of the deposit, it being much darker and 
richer when the solution is used hot than when 
it is used cold, and it is claimed by a great 
many electro-platers, and justly too, that a 



THE SILVER PLATER's HAND BOOK. 55 

metal deposited from a warm solution is harder, 
and consequently more durable, than a metal 
deposited from a cold solution. 

The strength of the battery also has a great 
deal to do with the color of the deposit, a 
moderately weak current producing a much 
lighter colored deposit than that produced by a 
much stronger battery. There are, however, 
certain limits regulating both the temperature 
and battery power, beyond which it is not safe 
to venture. The temperature should never be 
allowed to greatly exceed 160° Fahr. 

The amount of battery power is a more 
difficult matter to determine, as it varies with 
the amount of surface presented by the articles 
to be plated. Generally speaking, three cups of 
the ordinary Callaud or gravity battery will be 
amply sufficient for operations on the larger 
scale, while one, or, perhaps, two cups will 
answer for the gilding of small articles, or 
electro-plating on a small scale. 

Gold deposited by the electric current is not 
always pure gold, as other metals are often 
deposited with it in order to produce the desired 
color or tint, and in large electro plating estab- 
lishments, or where a great variety of work is 



56 THE SILVER PLATER's HAND-BOOK. 

(lone, a number of gilding solutions are used, 
each of them yielding a different colored de- 
posit. However, one solution is capable of 
yielding, with careful and judicious manage- 
ment, a deposit of gold varying in color from 
the light yellow of almost pure gold, to a deposit 
so alloyed with copper as to resemble 14 karat 
gold, and which it really is. 

In order to accomplish this, the solution must 
contain a small amount of copper. This metal 
is always present in old gilding solutions, caused 
by a very minute portion of the metal being dis- 
solved from each article of copper that has been 
plated in the solution. Of course the amount 
of metal dissolved from each individual article is 
very small indeed, but when in the course of 
time a great many of them have been plated, 
the aggregate of the dissolved copper is con- 
siderable, and quite sufficient to change the color 
of the deposit. A freshly made solution used 
quite hot, with a large gold anode and a toler- 
ably strong battery, will generally give a satis- 
factory deposit, but should it still be of too light 
a color, remove the gold anode and substitute in 
its place a clean one of copper and work the 
solution with it until the deposit begins to 



THE SILVER PLATER's HAND-BOOK. 57 

slightly change its color, and then replace it 
with the gold anode. If the copper anode has 
been weighed before, and again just after using 
it, as above mentioned, it will be discovered 
that a portion of it has been dissolved in the 
solution, which by being deposited with the 
gold gives it a richer and darker color. 

To obtain a green colored deposit, add a small 
quantity of the ordinary silver plating solution 
to the gilding solution, with gentle stirring, 
taking care to add just enough to produce the 
desired effect, as where too much of the silver 
solution is added it is liable to spoil it. 

White gilding is produced by adding a solu- 
tion of nitrate of silver to the gilding solution, 
until the desired colored deposit is obtained, 
which must be ascertained by actual trial. 

Pink gold is obtained by first plating the 
articles in a cold and weak solution, with a weak 
battery, then giving them another coat in a hot 
and strong solution that has considerable copper 
in it, using a more powerful battery in order to 
obtain a dark colored deposit, then give them an 
exceedingly thin coating in the ordinary silver 
plating solution, and finally burnish them. The 
coatine of silver should be barelv sufficient to 



58 THE SILVER PLATEr's HAND BOOK. 

impart a lighter tinge to the deposit which, if 
the operation has been successful, will be of a 
beautiful pink color when burnished. 

To gild the inside surface of articles, such as 
cups, cream pitchers, and similar articles, fill 
them with the solution, and suspend a gold anode 
in them, and attach the article itself to the wire 
leading from the zinc pole of the battery. The 
lips of the pitcher, and other portions that the 
solution does not touch, may be plated by laying 
a rag wetted with the gilding solution upon the 
part, leaving a portion of it immersed in the 
solution contained in the vessel. The outside 
surface of the article, or that portion of it you 
may not want to gold plate, may be coated 
with a solution of sealing wax dissolved in 
naptha, or simply painted over with melted 
beeswax, and the articles placed in the gilding 
solution in the ordinary way, and after the 
gilding operation has been completed, the wax 
is easily removed. 



EEPLATING OLD AETIOLES. 



In order to obtain a good satisfactory deposit 
upon old articles, the old plating must first be 
entirely removed, or they will be apt to show 
lines, where ti:e old and the new plating join. 

The removing of the old deposit may be 
accomplished, by making them the anode in a 
solution composed of one pound of cyanide of 
potassium in one gallon of water, using a sheet 
of copper for the cathode. This process is 
always used for articles of iron, steel, lead, 
brittania metal, and pewter and sometimes for 
articles of copper, brass and German silver. 
Articles made of the latter metals are generally 
"stripped" of their old deposit in an acid solu- 
tion, which is made by adding a small quantity 
of saltpetre (nitrate of soda) to a quantity of 
hot and strong sulphuric acid sufficient to cover 
the articles. Should action become slow, it may 
be quickened by adding more saltpetre, and 
using the solution at a higher temperture. 



60 THE SILVER PLATER's HAND-BOOK. 

After the old plating has been removed, they 
should be well washed in clean water, scratch 
brushed, and treated with the various acid 
and mercuric solutions as described on page 39, 
in order to prepare the surface for the gilding 
solution. The "stripping" solution will not act 
upon the copper or brass base of the articles to 
any very great extent, unless they are allowed 
to remain in it too long. 

The articles should be perfectly dried before 
immersing them, in order to keep the solution 
as free from water as possible. 

This solution is probably the best for opera- 
tions on a small scale, as the amount, or bulk of 
it, need not be much more than barely sufficient 
to cover the articles. 

Another solution is prepared by adding ten 
parts of strong sulphuric acid to one of nitric 
acid. A large quantity of this solution is re^ 
quired, which should be kept as free from water 
as possible by taking care that the articles to be 
"stripped" are first thoroughly dried, and by 
keeping the vessel containing it closely covered 
to prevent its aborbing moisture from the air. 
This solution should be used cold, and as it be- 
comes weaker, add very small quantities of nitric 



THE SILVER PLATER's HAND BOOK. 61 

acid to it. The addition of a small quantity of 
water will cause it to attack the copper base of 
the articles. 

In stripping old articles to be replated, care 
must be taken to remove every traces of the old 
d posit, in order that the new one may present a 
clean, smooth and evenly colored appearance. 

Some platers, however, replate old articles 
without first removing the old plating, by wash- 
ing and scouring them well, then brushing them 
tlioroughly with a wire scratch brush, (see page 
72), and finally, after treating them with the 
acid and mercuric solution, (see page 40), 
placing them at once in a tolerable strong silver 
solution, and using a battery of considerable 
strength at first, diminishing the battery power 
as the plating operation progresses. 

This plan is not an economical one, as the 
deposit is doubled upon that portion of the 
articles subject to the least wear, and giving the 
other portions a much lighter coat, where they 
need it the most. This process also requires 
that a thicker plating be deposited, in order to 
cover up the lines that are liable to occur where 
the old and the new deposits join, and which 
by the way, is an extremely difficult matter to 



62 THE SILVER FLATEr's HAND BOOK. 

do, as scratches and lines have a tendency to 
magnify themselves during the platin^^ process, 
and where a very thick deposit is obtained, a 
slight scratch often becomes a crack of consid 
erable size. ^ 

About the only remedy for this is to take 
them out of the plating solution quite often and 
brush them well, and while in the solution they 
should be kept in gentle but constant motion. 

In re-gilding old articles, the old deposit 
should first be removed by making them the 
anode in a warm solution composed of one 
pound of cyanide of potassium in one gallon 
of water, using a battery of considerable 
strength until all of the old plating has all been 
dissolved. They should then be well washed 
and brushed in clean water and prepared for the 
plating solution by treating them with the 
various acid and mercuric solutions described on 
pages 39 and 40. 



HOW TO MAKE A BATTERY. 



One of the best batteries for electro-plating 
purposes is the ordinary gravity battery, of 
which there are various styles, all of them, 
however, being made on the same general plan. 

To construct a battery of this kind, procure 
two or three pieces of sheet copper five or six 
inches long, and about two inches wide and 
fasten them together by means of a copper 
rivet through the center; to the end of one of 
the strips fasten a copper wire about a foot long 
by means of another copper rivet. The wire 
must be well insulated except at its two ex- 
tremities, in order to prevent its being corroded 
at the surface of the solution. 

India rubber is the best substance for this 
purpose and is generally used in batteries of 
this description, but where wire already coated 
with rubber cannot be procured, a very good 
substitute may be obtained by wrapping th<i 
wire carefully with tarred twine and giving it a 



64 THE SILVER PLATER's HAND BOOK. 

final coating of melted beeswax, containing a 
very little lard. 

The zinc electrode is more difficult to make, 
and where it is convenient it will be more 
economical to buy them. They are made in a 
number of shapes, the object being to obtain an 
electrode exposing the largest amount of surface 
to the action of the solution for a given weight 
of metal, and a the same time to be of such a 
shape as to allow the bubbles of hydrogen gas 
formed by the action of the battery to escape 
freely. 

A very convenient form is that of a wheel 
with six spokes, the "hub" projecting upward 
about two or two and a half inches with the 
connecting wire cast in the center of it. This 
wire should be from from from four to six inches 
in length. 

Zincs of this kind are suspended in the solu- 
tion b}^ passing the wire through a hole in a 
small flat piece of wood long enough to reach 
across the vessel, and is fastened to it at the 
proper height by means oi a small clamp of any 
kind, or by simply taking a turn of the connect- 
ing wire around the supporting stick. A very 
good clamp for securing the zincs in position 



THE SILVER PLATEr's HAND BOOK. 6^J 

may be made by drilling a hole large enough to 
admit the wire, throug a small piece or block of 
metal, and then drilling another hole at right 
angles, and intercepting the first one, and fit- 
ting it with a screw, and is used by slipping it 
over the connecting wire until it rests on the 
wooden support, and fastening it to the wire by 
means of the screw. 

Zincs are often cast in the form of a thick 
ring with a hook shaped projection of the same 
metal extending upwards about three inches 
and at right angles with the ring. This zinc is 
used by attaching it to the jar by simply hook 
ing it over the edge. The top of the "hook" 
has two holes drilled in it, intercepting each 
other, one of them being fitted with a set screw 
for clamping the connecting wire. 

There are several other forms of zincs, but 
these two we have described embody the main 
features of all the others and of these two we 
think the first is the best on account of the 
larger amount of surface exposed and the more 
economical distribution of the metal. 

The dimensions of a well proportioned zinc 
should be from five to six inches wide, one inch 



66 THE SILVER PLATER'S HAND-BOOK. 

to one inch and a half high, and the spokes and 
rim about three-eighths to half an inch thick. 

The jar for containing the battery should be 
about ten inches high and from six to seven 
inches wide, with straight sides and flat bottom, 
and may be of either glass or earthen ware. 

To set the battery in operation, fill the jar 
with water to within two inches of the top and 
add one pound of sulphate of zinc. When it is 
all dissolved take the copper electrode and bend 
the strips outward until their ends are all about 
equally distant, and place it in the bottom of 
the jar ; then add a small handfuU of sulphate 
of copper and suspend the zinc in the solution, 
about two inches above the copper, and in a 
short time the battery will be ready for use. 
When using more than one jar or cell of bat- 
tery at one time they should be connected 
together by attaching the zinc of one jar to the 
copper of the next, the zinc of the second to 
the copper of the third, and so on, leaving the 
copper of the first and the zinc of the last jar 
for connecting with the wires leading trom the 
plating solution. 

When not in use the terminal wires should be 
connected together in order that the battery 



THE SILVER PLATER's HAND BOOK. 67 

may continue to work, otherwise tlie blue solu- 
tion will gradually raise, and in a few days time 
surround the zinc and soon destroy it. When 
the blue solution has almost disappeared add a 
few crystals of sulphate of copper. After being 
in use for some time the solution becomes satu- 
rated with sulphate of zinc, which will creep up 
the sides and over the top of the vessel and 
greatly impair its working. When this is ob- 
served draw off about a pint from the fop of the 
solution, and replace it with water, taking care 
not to stir the solution. 

This form of battery is termed the "gravity 
battery" because the two solutions which are 
employed in it, sulphate of zinc and sulphate 
of copper, are separated, but allowed to touch 
each other by taking advantage of the difference 
in their weights, the sulphate of copper solution 
being the heaviest, remaining at the bottom sur 
rounding the copper electrode, and the sulphate of 
zinc, being the lightest, remains at the top and 
surrounds the sine. 

After this battery has been in use five or six 
months the zincs will require renewing, the 
copper in the meantime having greatly in- 
creased in size, the copper of the sulphate of 



68 THE SILVER PLATER's HAND-BOOK. 

copper havin been deposited upon it, while the 
hberated sulphuric acid attacked the zinc, fornn- 
ing sulphate of zinc. When the deposit upon 
the copper has become about a quarter of an 
inch thick, it should be removed by bending the 
strip until the deposit cracks. It may then be 
easily removed by inserting a chisel between it 
and the original copper strip. Quite a quantity 
of perfectly pure coppei may be collected in 
this manner, which is valuable, and should be 
preserved. 

The zincs should be taken out at least once a 
month, and thorougly scraped and cleaned. 

This battery is preferred for electro-plating 
operations on account of the steady, uniform 
carrent it produces, which is a very important 
consideration in obtaining a good deposit. 

The strength of the current may be varied by 
raising or lowering the zinc in the solution. 
When a weak current is desired the zinc should 
be raised so that but a very small portion of it 
is immersed in the solution, the greatest strength 
being obtained when all the zincs are wholly 
immersed. 

This battery possesses a very great advantage 
over all others, from the fact that it always gen- 



THE SILVER PLATER's HAND BOOK* 69 

erates a current of uniform strength during long 
continued action, which is something that other 
batteries, although generating a more powerful 
current, often fail to do. It is also much more 
easily managed, and requires less care and atten- 
tion to keep it in good working order, and, in 
fact, the only objection that can be legitimately 
raised against it is, that it deteriorates rapidly when 
not in active service, the blue vitrol solution, 
raising slowly, but surely, and finally surround- 
ing the zinc, which is quickly corroded and 
rendered unfit for use until it has been thor- 
oughly cleaned. When there is but little work 
to do, and the battery forced to remain idle the 
greater part of the time, the old style "Daniel" 
battery will probably give the best results. It 
consists of a strip of copper five or six inches 
wide and fifteen or eighteen inches long, rolled 
in the form of a cylinder that will fit the inside 
of the battery jar loosely. Inside of this copper 
cylinder is placed an earthenware cup which, in 
the abesnce of regular porous cups, made 
especially for this style of battery, may consist 
of a small unglazed flower pot, the hole in the 
bottom being securely stopped up. Inside of 



70 THE SILVER PLATER's HAND-BOOK. 

this porous cup is placed a bar, or better still, 
a small cylinder of zinc. 

To put the battery in operation, fill the outer 
jar with a solution of blue vitrol, and the porous 
cup containing the zinc, with a tolerably strong 
solution of sulphate of zinc, or a mixture of ten 
or twelve parts of water, to which one part of 
sulphuric acid is added slowly, may be used 
instead. The blue vitrol solution must be kept 
strong, and completely saturated, by carefully 
observing that there is at all times a few crystals 
of blue vitrol in the solution, and by adding a 
small handfull, from time to time, as fast as it is 
dissolved. The zinc should be supported in 
some way, and not allowed to touch the sides, 
or bottom of the porous cup. This is usually 
accomplished by laying a small stick across the 
porous cup, and suspending the zinc from it by 
the connecting wire. 

This battery generates a steady and uniform 
cnrrent, but of less strength than that generated 
by the "Gravity" battery. When the battery 
is to remain idle any considerable length of 
time, the zincs and coppers should be taken 
out, washed and laid away, and the porous cups 
removed and the liquid they contain poured 



THE SILVER PLATEr's HAND BOOK. 71 

into a bottle and preserved for future use. The 
blue vitrol solution may remain in the larger 
outside jar, which should be carefully covered 
over to keep out the dust. 



NOTES. 



In preparing articles to receive a deposit, and 
also during the plating process, the scratch brush 
plays a very important part. It is made by 
wrapping a bundle of fine and hard brass wires 
tightly with another wire, leaving a small por- 
tion of each end free to form a kind of a stiff 
brush. Where practicable there should be three 
or four such brushes of different degree of fine- 
ness and temper, or one end of the brush may 
be anealed so as to be softer than the other end. 

It very often happens that the deposit is 
slightly "off color," or has a gritty, sandy ap- 
pearance. When this is the case the articles 
should be removed from the plating solution 
and well brushed and returned for the deposit to 
be finished. 

In the larger electro-plating establishments 
the "lathe brush" is used almost exclusively, and 
consists of a small wheel from which the wires 
radiate, and which is attached the axle of the 
lathe. 



THE SILVER PLATER's HAND-BOOK. 73 

The "scratch brush" is not always absolutely 
necessary, and may be dispensed with when 
doing small jobs, but for plating on the larger 
scale it will be found a most valuable aid. Its 
uses are manifold. 

In cleansing articles they should be well 
brushed immediately upon taking them out of 
the potash solution, and also upon taking them 
out of the acid solutions, should they have a 
dark or discolored appearance. 

When a thick deposit of metal is desired they 
should be taken out of the plating solution and 
well brushed to secure a regular and even 
deposit. 

Sometimes the articles while in the plating 
solution become dark colored and presents a 
dirty appearance. This is generally caused by 
the battery power being too great in proportion 
to the size of the articles. When this is ob 
served to be the case take them out, wash and 
brush them well, treat them again with the 
mercuric solution and try it again, this time, 
however, reducing the power of the electric cur- 
rent, by lessening the number of cells of the 
battery used, or else by raising all of the zincs 
partly out of the battery solution. 

6 



74 THE SILVER PLATER's HAND BOOK. 

The difficuly may also be overcome by plating 
a greater number of articles at the same time, 
the power of the electric current being thereby 
distributed over a great amount of surface. 
The solution may work badly on account of its 
being improperly made, or the ingredients be- 
coming disproportioned by constant use, or 
they may contain acids accidentally introduced 
that will corrode the articles. In any case they 
must be taken out and well washed, and if the 
difficulty is in the solution it should be remedied 
before attempting to plate them again. 

After the plating operation has been success- 
fully accomplished the articles should be well 
* 'scratch brushed," and then burnished, unless 
it is desired to make them bright in the bright- 
ening solution. 

The bmnishet' is a very hard and smooth piece 
of steel, highly polished, and and fitted with a 
suitable handle. The articles to be burnished, 
after being well scratch brushed, are moistened 
with sour beer and rubbed with the burnishing 
tool until they have become perfectly bright. 

Whenever the shape or design of the article 
will admit of it, they should be secured in a 
suitable vice or clamp, the jaws or face of which 



^PiF SILVER plater's HAND-BOOK. 75 

have been covered with a thick piece of cloth 
to prevent any injury by scratching or crushing 
them. The burnisher should be grasped with 
both hands, one near each end, and drawn 
rather briskly backward and forward over the 
surface of the articles, using only sufficient 
force to produce the desired result. 

The interior of hollow articles, such as pitch- 
ers, drinking cups, etc., and articles of intricate 
design, require burnishing tools of different 
shapes, adapted to the general outline of the 
surface to be made bright. 

Electro-deposited nickel is a very difficult 
metal to burnish, owing to its extreme hardness. 
It is much better to deposit this metal in a 
bright state than to attempt to burnish it. 

Water. — The water used in all plating opera- 
tions, both in mixing the various chemicals, and 
in making the plating solutions, should either 
be distilled or well filtered rain water ; spring and 
well water invariably contaming various impu- 
rities, very detrimental to the working of the 
sokitions. It should form no cloud upon the 
addition of a few drops of nitrate of silver. 



76 THE SILVER PLATER's HAND-BOOK. 

Nitric Acid. — This acid is sometimes aqua 
fortis. Only the best and strongest acid should 
be used for dissolving silver to form the nitrate 
of silver. A small portion of it largely diluted 
with pure distilled water should form no cloud 
upon the addition of a drop of a strong solution 
of nitrate of silver. It should be kept in strong 
well stoppered bottles, in a dark, cool and 
dry place. 

Care should be taken not to inhale any of the 
fumes that arise from the acid. 

Should a drop of this or any other acid fall 
upon the clothes, apply freely and at once, a 
quantity of diluted aqua ammonia. 

Hydrochloric Acid. — This acid is best 
known as muriatic acid, and when pure should 
be almost colorless, and of a specific gravity not 
less than 120^ This acid is formed by the 
chemical union, or combination of hydrogen 
and chlorine. Hence the name hydro chloric 
acid, ^ 

Aqua Regia.— This acid is a mixture of 
nitric and hydro-chloric acids in the proportion 
of one volume of nitric and from one to three 
parts of hydro-chloric acids, the strongest and 



THE SILVER PLATER's HAND-BOOK. 77 

best results being obtained when the propor- 
tions are about one of nitric and two of hydro- 
chloric acids. It should not be prepared until 
required for immediate use, as it deteriorates 
rapidly. 

Sulphuric Acid. — This acid is sometimes 
called **oil of vitriol," and when pure should be 
almost, or quite colorless, and should be kept 
in a strong bottle with a close fitting glass stop- 
per, as the particles of dust, wood, cork, or 
other organic matter quickly imparts a dark, 
brownish color to it. 

Whefi diluting this acid it is higJily important 
that the acid shcrnld be poured very slowly i?ito the 
zvaief, and never the reverse. Both the acid and 
water should also be quite cold, as great heat is 
evolved upon mixing them. Should a quantity 
of hot zvatef be sudderdy added to an equal amount 
of sulpJiuric acid, a violent explosion is almost cer- 
tain to take place. 

Bisulphide of Carbon. — This is a very vola- 
tile and inflammable liquid, and for this reason 
should be carefully kept away from a lighted 
lamp, stove or other source of heat or flame. 



78 THE SILVER PLATER's HAND-BOOK. 

Chloride of Gold. — This salt is sometimes 
called "muriate of gold," and may be purchased 
in almost any drug store, or m.ay be easily pre- 
pared by any chemist. The commercial salt is 
often very impure, and largely adulterated with 
other cheaper salts. It may be prepared in the 
following manner : 

For each ounce of gold to be dissolved, pre- 
pare four ounces of aqua regia, using only the 
best and strongest acids. The mixture should 
be slightly warm, and the gold added slowly in 
small fragments, until it is all dissolved. Should 
the action become slow, it may be quickened by 
heating the mixture, and stirring with moderate 
heat until it has been evaporated to a small 
bulk which will solidify upon cooling, forming a 
yellow salt which should be readily dissolved in 
water. Should it contain a white powder that 
will not dissolve in \vater, it is chloride of sil 
ver, formed from traces of that metal being 
present in the gold. 

Fulminate of Gold. — This salt is a dark, 
brown powder, and veiy highly explosive. It is 
formed by the addition of ammonia, or a solu- 
tion of any salt of ammonia to a solution of 



The silver plater's hand-book. 79 

chloride of gold. It is sometimes used in form- 
ing electro-gilding solutions, but owing to its 
dangerous properties, the inexperienced operator 
should never undertake its manufacture. 

Nitrate of Silver. — This salt is in the form 
of small clear crystals, and should be free from 
any odor of nitric acid, and be freely soluble in 
pure water. 

It is formed by dissolving pure silver in warm 
and slightly diluted nitric acid (about one part of 
pure water to four parts of strong nitric acid.) 
The silver should be cut up in small pieces and 
added slowly. Should the action become too 
rapid, and the mixture threaten to boil over, 
add a small quantity of cold water ; but, if the 
silver is added very slowly, and the mixture not 
too warm in the first place, there will be no 
trouble of this kind. Should the action be too 
slow, it may be quickened by applying more 
heat. 

When it will dissolve no more metal, evapor- 
ate the solution, with a gentle heat, to a small 
bulk, and, when cooled, it will crystalize. 

This salt is the nitrate of silver, which should 
be carefully collected and placed in a bottle, and 



80 THE SILVER PLATER's HAND BOOK. 

kept in a dark place, or the bottle may be 
wrapped in a black paper or cloth to prevent the 
light acting upon the nitrate of silver, which, 
by the way, is the salt used by the photogra- 
phers in coating their plates in order to make 
them sensitive to the action of the light. 

Chloride of Silver. — This salt is somtimes 
called muriate of silver, and is extensively used 
in forming solutions for plating articles without 
the aid of a battery. It is generally prepared 
by adding a strong solution of common table salt 
to a solution of nitrate of silver, until it will no 
longer form a precipitate. No harm will be 
done if an excess of the solution ot salt be 
added, and it is best to add enough to make 
certain that all of the silver has been precipi- 
tated. A quantity of dilute muriatic acid may 
be used, in place of the solution of salt, and 
will give the same result. 

When all the silver has been precipitated, 
pour off the clear liquid and carefully collect 
and wash the residue, which is chloride of sil- 
ver. It should be kept in a well corked bottle 
and carefully protected from the light until 
ready for use. 



THE SILVER PLATER's HAND-BOOK' 81 

Mercury. — This metal is better known as 
'^quicksilver," and, when pure, should look per- 
fectly bright and clean. It should not be allowed 
to accidentally touch any metal, except iron or 
platinum, as with most of the other metals it 
forms an amalgam. It also volatilizes entirely 
by being heated. 

This property of the metal is taken advantage 
of in gold and silver mining. The ore is first 
crushed and powdered into a fine powder, by 
powerful machinery, and then mixed with the 
mercury, in large pans ; all of the gold, silver, 
copper and other metals unite with the mercury 
and form an amalgam, and the powdered rock, 
now robbed of its metal, is washed away to 
make room for a fresh supply, which is treated 
in the same way, until tlie mercury becomes so 
saturated with other metals that it can no longer 
be used. This is determined by occasionally 
testing it with the fingers. When it retains an 
impression or dent it is known to be fully 
charged with other metals, and is ready to be 
freed of them. 

This is accomplished by molding the amalgam 
in the form of small balls, with the hands, and 
placing them in a retort, to the top of which a 



82 THE SILVER PLATER'S HAND-BOOK. 

pipe is connected, leadin^^ to a vessel containing 
cold water. Upon applying heat, the mercury- 
volatilizes and goes through the pipe, in the 
form of vapor, but condenses by the time it 
reaches the water, where it is collected in the 
form of perfectly pare mercury, and may tlien 
be used over again. 

Sulphate of Copper. — This salt is also known 
as "blue vitrol," or "blue stone," and should be 
in the torm of tolerably large crystals of a beau- 
tiful deep blue color. It sometimes contains 
iron, which is indicated by crystals having a 
greenish hue. 

Hydrocyanic Acid. — This acid is better 
known as "prussic acid." It is a clear liquid, 
and is composed of water charged with cynogen 
gas. It is one of the most violent and deadly 
poisons known in chemical or medical science. 
It is very dangerous to leave the bottle contain- 
ing it uncorked, as the vapor or gas arising from 
it is extremely poisonous. 

It should be kept in a dark bottle, and well 
protected from the light. 



THE SILVER PLATER S HANDBOOK. 83 

Cyanide of Pottassium. — This substance, 
also, is a deadly poison, and produced almost as 
fatal results when absorbed by the skin as when 
swallowed. 

It is generally procured in small, irregular 
sized lumps, of a white or very light grey color. 
It should be kept in strong and well stoppered 
bottles, as it absorbs moisture rapidly when ex- 
posed to the air. 

The cyanide of potasssium procured from, 
chemists or in drug stores, varies greatly in 
strength and purity, and for this reason it is 
often more desirable to manufacture the article 
than to purchase it. 

It is most conveniently and nearly always 
made in the following matiner : Take a quantity 
of prussiate of potash (ferrocyanide of potas 
sium), and grind it up well in a mortar or other- 
wise reduce it to a fine powder, and dry it, by 
a gentle heat, in an iron pan, with c. nstant stir- 
ring. In the meantime have an iron vessel, 
large enough to contain double the amount of 
the powdered prussiate of potash, heated red 
hot. When the powdered prussiate of potash 
has become thoroughly dry, put a small quan- 
tity of it in the red hot iron vessel, and wait 



84 THE SILVER PLATER's HAND BOOK. 

until it has all melted ; then add a little more of 
it, and so on, until the whole of it is melted, the 
vessel being covered as much as possible with a 
close-fitting iron lid, as during the whole opera- 
tion a great deal of poisonous gas is evolved 
from the mixture. 

After it has all been melted, it should be kept 
in that condition for about ten, or, perhaps, 
fifteen minutes, or, until a sample is procured 
by dipping a small iron rod in the mixture, has 
a white color. It should then be allowed to 
stand quiet for a few minutes, in order to permit 
the impurities to settle to the bottom. This 
may be aided by gently tapping the sides oi the 
vessel. 

The clear liquid remaining at the top is the 
pure cyanide of potassium, which should be 
carefully poured off in a shallow iron jar, and 
allowed to cool. Before it has become quite 
cold it should be broken up into small lumps 
with a light hammer, taking care that none of 
the fragments get into the eyes or mouth. 

The sediment at the bottom of the vessel, will 
contain a large quantity of cyanide of potas- 
sium, which may be obtained by dissolving it in 
water, and straining or filtering the solution 



THE SILVER PLATER S HAND BOOK. 80 

through a heavy, and closely woven piece of 
white cotton goods or regular filtering paper ; it 
should, however, be scraped out of the vessel 
while still hot, as when cold it is quite a difficult 
matter to break it. 



EEOOVERING TEAOES OF METAL FEOM 
WASH WATEES. 



In making the salts of gold and silver the 
liquid first poured off, as well as the subsequent 
wash waters should be preserved and tested for 
any traces of metal they may contain. In the 
preparation of the salts of gold, the wash 
waters should be made slightly acid by the ad- 
dition of a small quantity of muriatic acid and 
number of clean sheets of zinc immersed in the 
solution, and allowed to remain for some time. 
This will cause all the gold to be precipitated. 
When the solution contains chloride of gold it 
may be precipitated by adding a solution of 
sulphate of iron ('green vitriol" or "copperas.") 

There are a number of ways of recovering 
gold from old gilding solutions, but almost all 
of them are very complex and difficult opera- 
tions for inexperienced persons to perform, and 
require a good knowledge of chemistry. 

One method is to evaporate the solution to 
dryness, powder it and mix it with an equal 



THE SILVER PLATER's HANDBOOK. 87 

amount by weight of litharge, then place it in a 
platinum crucible and melt it ; the result will be 
a small lump of gold, alloyed witn other metals, 
generally with lead. This is removed by placing 
the lump in a vessel containing hot nitric acid. 
This will l^ave the pure gold in a loose spongy 
mass, which may be melted over again and cast 
in the form of a bar. 

Another method for recovering the metallic 
gold from old solutions, is as follows : 

Add muriatic acid to the plating solution 
until it is strongly acid. This may be tested by 
means of test papers, that may be procured in 
almost any drug store. The addition of the 
muriatic acid causes a disengagement of large 
volumes of hydro-cyanic acid gas, which is 
extremely poisonous, and for this reason 
the operation should be conducted in the open 
air, or where there is good ventilation. A 
precipitate is formed also, which is the cyanide 
of gold, cyanide of copper, and perhaps^a small 
quantity of the chloride of silver. This pre- 
cipitate is carefully collected and washed by 
adding water to it, stirring it briskly, and after 
it has settled, pouring off the clear liquid, 
repeating the operation several times, it is then 



88 THE SILVER PLATER's HAND-BOOK. 

dried and dissolved in cold aqua regia [see 
page y6], which dissolve'? the gold and copper, 
and leaves the chloride of silver in the form of 
a white or light colored powder. This solution 
is then evaporated almost to dryness, and the 
resultant salt dissolved in water, and the gold 
precipitated from it in the form of a brownish 
metallic powder by the addition of a solution of 
sulphate of iron. The metallic silver may be 
separated from the chloride of silver by mixing 
it with a somewhat larger quantity of the dry 
carbonate of sodium, and melting the mass in a 
crucible. A small lump of pure silver is the 
result. 



EEC0VEEIN6 SILVER FEOM OLD SILVER 
PLATING SOLUTIONS. 



Add muriatic acid to the plating solution 
until it is strongly acid. This will cause the 
liberation of a large quantity of hydrocyanic 
acid gas, which, as we have stated before, is 
very poisonous, and should, under no circum- 
stances, be inhaled. It also causes a precipitate 
of silver, in the form of chloride of silver, 
which should be a very light or pure w^hite 
color, but is more often tinted with red, owing 
to the copper nearly always present in old solu- 
tions, being precipitated with the silver. The 
1 he copper can be removed, if desired, after 
the precipitate has been washed by treating it 
with warm muriatic acid. This dissolves the 
copper and leaves the chloride of silver un- 
changed, which may be converted into metallic 
silver, by the process described on page SS, or, 
it may be used in forming a new plating solu- 
tion. 

7 



90 THE SILVER PLATER's HAND-BOOK. 

In making nitrate of silver the liquid first 
poured off, as well as all the wash waters should 
be preserved, mixed together, and a strong 
solution of common salt or dilute muriatic acid 
added to them until it ceases to produce a 
precipitate. 

This precipitate is the chloride of silver, 
which should be well washed, and may then be 
converted into metallic silver, or placed in a well 
stoppered bottle, and laid away for future use, 
as occasion may require, but it must be care 
fully protected from the light, which decomposes 
it rapidly. 

The recovery of metal from the stripping 
liquids, may be accomplished by evaporating 
them down to a very small bulk, which will 
crystalize upon cooling. The residue is then 
dissolved in water, and the metal precipitated 
by means of strong solution of common salt, 
or by dilute muriatic acid. 

The precipitate thus lormed will likely contain 
a small amount of copper, which is dissolved 
by warm muriatic acid, and leaves the pure 
chloride of silver. 



APPENDIX. 



Pyro Plating. — During the last few years a 
new process of causing a deposit of gold, silver, 
nickel and copper to adhere more firmly to such 
metals as iron and steel and other metals that do 
not readily receive a coating of mercury in the 
*'quicking" solution preparatory to the plating 
operation proper. 

This method has been termed pyro-plating, 
and, since its introduction, it has met with 
great success. Articles of iron or steel are first 
thoroughly cleansed by filing and scraping them, 
scouring them in a strong and boiling solution of 
potash. They are then made the cathode in 
the same solution, and a very strong current 
used, which will cause bubbles of gas to arise 
and make the surface look bright and silvery. 
They are then placed immediately in the silver 
plating solution and plated in the usual way. 

When the deposit has acquired the desired 
thickness they are taken out and dried and 



fi^2 THE SILVER PLATER's HAND BOOK. 

placed in a furnace and heated. This seems to 
cause the deposit to enter the pores of the iron 
or steel and form a kind of alloy at the point of 
union of the two metals. Should the articles 
require to be tempered they may be cooled sud- 
denly in water or oil and the proper degree of 
temper obtained. 

Pyro-Gilding is conducted in pretty much 
the same way, the only difference being that the 
gold is deposited in successive layers and sub- 
jected to heat in the furnace after each coating 
has been deposited. The operator may be 
somewhat surprised, when the articles are first 
heated, at the almost total disappearance of the 
deposit which has been driven into the pores of 
the article. The second coating holds its own 
much better, and the third, or fourth coating, 
remains entire. 

When this operation has been conducted with 
care, the deposit will be found to be absolutely 
perfect, and no amount of picking, or chipping 
at it, will cause it to strip or scale off. 

Remedies for Accidents. — As the majority 
of the articles used in electro-plating are more 
or less poisonous, their different antidotes should 



THE SILVER PLATER's HANDBOOK. 93 

be well understood, however, an ounce of pre- 
vention is well worth a pound of cure. A care- 
ful observance of this old and true maxim by 
cautiously handling all chemicals and liquids of 
a poisonous nature will accomplish more good 
than any or all of the different antidotes, simply 
by avoiding any occasion for their use. 

Cyanide of pottasium is one of the most deadly 
poisons known, and where a very small quantity 
of it or any of the cyanide plating solutions have 
been swallowed death follows almost instantly, 
there being usually no time to administer anti- 
dotes. 

Should the patient exhibit signs of life he 
should be made to swallow a dilute solution of the 
citrate, acetate or tartrate of iron, and cold water 
applied to the head and spine, and it should be 
remembered that whatever is done must be done 
quickly, as death generally results in a few 
seconds of time. 

During the manufacture of cyanide of potas- 
sium and also during the operation for the re- 
covery of metals from cyanide plating solutions. 
Large volumes of hydro cyanic acid gas is 
evolved, which is very poisonous and dangerous 
when inhaled. This may be avoided by con- 



94 THE SILVER PLATER's HAND-BOOK. 

ducting the operation in the open air, and where 
the wind can blow the p )i.sonous vapors away 
from the operator. Should the weather or other 
circumstances arise which would necessitate the 
operation being conducted in-doors, great care 
should be taken to secure perfect ventilation. 

If either nitric muriatic or sulphuric acid 
have been swallowed, administer at once an 
abundance of warm water with a very little 
mustard in it to serve as an emetic. The anti- 
dotes are white of eggs, chalk, and water or 
magnesia and water. Should potash or caustic 
soda be swallowed, administer lemonade or 
dilute vinegar. 



INDEX. 



Appendix 91 

Depositing different slialts of gold 54 

Electro Nickel Plating 21 

General Information 9 

Gold Plating without a battery 43 

Gold Plating by battery process 47 

How to make a battery 63 

Introduction 1 

Management of Nickel Plating Solutions 23 

Nickel Plating without a battery 19 

Notes 72 

Practical operation of gilding solutions 51 

Preparing articles to be plated 13 

Eecovering traces of metal from wash waters 86 

Eecovering silver from old silver plating solutions 89 

Replating old articles 59 

Silver Plating without a battery 27 

Silver Plating by the battery process 31 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



00171126770 9 



